Affirmative Action

Nondiscrimination Policy

Purchase College is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to service, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the Purchase community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.

Purchase complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and harassment. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New York State Human Rights Law. These laws prohibit discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity. One type of sex discrimination is sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence.

Sexual harassment is defined as: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1.submission to such contact is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or education

2.submission or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or educational decisions affecting the individual

3.such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s welfare, academic or work performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or demeaning learning or work environment

Sexual harassment may include:

1.subtle persistent pressure for sexual activity

2.unnecessary touching, pinching, and/or brushing against a person

3.sexual coercion or assault

4.demanding sexual favors with implied or overt threats concerning work or academic decision or preferential treatment

6.stalking, cyber stalking, and failure to accept the termination of a consensual relationship with repeated overtures or other aberrant or negative behavior

Sexual violence has been defined as “physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent,” including rape, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.

Domestic Victim Status has be defined by the Human Rights Law as an individual who is a victim of an act which would constitute a family offense under N.Y. Family Court Act § 812. It is unlawful to discriminate against a domestic violence victim in hiring for a job, job advancement, requests for use of leave time, or other terms, conditions or privileges of employment. It is also unlawful for an employer to take an action in retaliation for filing a complaint of discrimination.

On-campus inquiries or complaints regarding Title IX Violations may be addressed to: